Overseas special court, Punjab (Act of 2025)
You are an overseas Pakistani and someone holds or controls your property in Punjab unlawfully, or you have any case over it.
Punjab only. 13 steps, 11 confirmed against the text.
What this route rules out
- Once a special court is sitting, any case where a party is an overseas Pakistani goes only to it, not to an ordinary civil court.
- You count as overseas only if you hold a passport, CNIC, NICOP, POC or OPF card and live abroad more than 182 days in a tax year.
The steps
You
Check you count as an overseas Pakistani: you hold a Pakistani passport, CNIC, NICOP, POC or OPF card, and you live, work or study abroad for more than 182 days in a tax year.
s2(c), Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), Pakistan Origin Card (POS) or Overseas Pakistani Foundation (OPF) ... living, working or studying abroad permanently or temporarily for more than one hundred and eighty two (182) days in a tax year
Lahore High Court
Find out whether a special court has been set up in Punjab, and for which area.
UNCONFIRMEDThe Act lets the government set up these courts by notice in the official Gazette, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court. We have not seen that notice. Check the Lahore High Court website or ask a lawyer before you file.
s3(1), Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, establish, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, as many special courts in the Punjab as it may deem necessary to try petitions filed by overseas Pakistanis in relation to their immovable properties
Special court
File a petition with a short statement of facts: who owns the property, who holds or controls it unlawfully, its estimated market value, any rent or profit they took, and the relief you want.
s4(2), Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
shall contain a concise statement of facts which shall include status of ownership and unlawful possession or control of property, estimated market value of property, details of rent or profits received by person in unlawful possession or control of property, if any, and the relief claimed
Lahore High Court
Find the court's filing rules, the papers it wants, any court fee, and whether you can file online.
UNCONFIRMEDThe Act says the Lahore High Court will make rules for filing and hearing, including by electronic means, and the petition may need other documents "as may be prescribed". We have not read those rules or any fee. Ask the court office or a lawyer.
s5(1), Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
The Lahore High Court shall make rules to enable filing of petitions, responses, applications, hearing of parties including recording of evidence under this Act and all matter connected therewith or incidental thereto through digital and electronic means.
Special court
The court calls the other side to appear on a date no more than ten days ahead.
- Time
First date within 10 days.
s6(1), Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
for appearance on a date fixed not later than ten days
Special court
Once notice is published, the other side must not sell, mortgage or hand over the property until the case ends. Any such deal is void.
s15, Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
After publication of notices under sub-section (1) of section 6, no respondent shall transfer, alienate, encumber, remove or part with possession of property pending final decision ... shall be void and of no legal effect
Special court
The other side can defend only if the court gives them leave to defend.
s7(1), Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
A special court shall not allow respondent to defend the application unless he obtains from this special court leave to defend.
Special court
The other side must apply for leave to defend within fifteen days.
- Time
15 days to apply for leave to defend.
s7(2), Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
a respondent shall file an application for leave to defend within fifteen days
Special court
Ask the court to let you take part by video link from abroad. The court must arrange it when you ask.
s8(5), Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
A special court, on request of an overseas Pakistani litigant, shall make arrangements to enable the litigant to participate in the court proceedings through video link.
Pakistani mission
You or your witness can give evidence through the High Commission, embassy or consulate where you live.
s8(6), Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
A special court shall allow evidence of an overseas litigant or a witness through the concerned high commissioner, embassy or consulate
Special court
The court must give judgment within ninety days of granting leave to defend.
- Time
Judgment within 90 days of leave to defend.
s9(1), Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
not later than ninety days from the date of grant of application for leave to defend
High Court
Either side can appeal to the High Court within fifteen days of the judgment.
- Time
15 days to appeal.
s10(1), Punjab Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act 2025, read .
The text says
Any person aggrieved by a judgment, decree or final order of the special court may, within fifteen days, prefer an appeal to the High Court.
within fifteen days, prefer an appeal to the High Court